Infinity and under mount convertible sink configuration device and method

ABSTRACT

A convertible sink configuration device and method converts a counter recessed sink into an infinity sink and back again. The method and device enable the covering of a drain and the majority of a counter recessed sink opening area to present a spa like infinity sink and back again with ease. The device may include a sink insert attached to a base support. The base support may attach to a supporting mechanism.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applicationnumber 61/775,295, filed Mar. 8, 2013, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sink configurations and, moreparticularly, to infinity and under mount convertible sink configurationdevice and method.

There are many water, waste drains and fixtures in the bathroom andother rooms with water systems. Drains are connected to take away wasteor dirty water to the sewage which may remind the user of filth. That isthe reason that most drains are hidden away in spa like environments.However, a vanity sink cabinet with counter recessed sinks is neverequipped with such a device to hide the drain, and/or the sink to createthis ambiance.

Current products are limited to the specific product that hides thedrain from plain view such as a cover for a toilet and a custom showerwhich is equipped with a hidden drain.

As can be seen, there is a need for a convertible sink configurationdevice and method for conversion of a counter recessed sink into aninfinity sink and back again with ease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a convertible sink configurationdevice comprises: a base support having a top side and a bottom side; asupporting mechanism attached to the bottom side of the base support,wherein the supporting mechanism is adjustable in height; and a sinkinsert attached to the top side of the base support.

In another aspect of the present invention, a convertible sinkconfiguration device comprises: a base plate having a top side and abottom side; a plurality of upper legs attached to the bottom side ofthe base plate, wherein the plurality of upper legs have a hollowinterior and an open bottom end; and a plurality of lower legsadjustably inserted into the hollow interior of the plurality of upperlegs, wherein the plurality of lower legs has a bottom end; and a sinkinsert attached to the top side of the base plate.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for converting avanity sink from an under mount to an infinity sink configurationcomprises: adjusting the height of a base support by adjusting theheight of a supporting mechanism attached to a bottom side of the basesupport; attaching a sink insert to a top side of the base support,wherein the sink insert, the supporting mechanism, and the base supportdefine a convertible sink configuration device; placing the convertiblesink configuration device in contact with a sink; and allowing for adrain gap between the perimeter of the sink insert and the sink andcounter.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a detail section view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, illustrating the adjustment of the lower legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a convertiblesink configuration device and method that may convert a counter recessedsink into an infinity sink and back again. The infinity sink is a coverthat is the same or similar material to a countertop or basin at a sizethat is smaller than the opening of the countertop to allow water toflow from the surface of the cover to the basin below to produce avisual effect of water vanishing or extending to “infinity”. The methodand device enable the covering of a drain and the majority of a counterrecessed sink opening area to present a spa like infinity sink and backagain with ease. The device may include a sink insert attached to a basesupport. The base support may attach to a supporting mechanism.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, a convertible sink configurationdevice 10 may include a base support 28. The base support 28 may have atop side 30 and a bottom side 32. The base support 28 may have asupporting mechanism 34 attached to the base support 28. In certainembodiments, the supporting mechanism 34 may attach to the bottom side32 of the base support 28. The supporting mechanism 34 may beadjustable, so that the height of the supporting mechanism 34 and basesupport 28 may vary. In certain embodiments, the supporting mechanismmay be of a fixed height. A sink insert 12 may be attached to the topside 30 of the base support 28.

In certain embodiments, the base support 28 may be a base plate 14, abracket or the like. In some embodiments, the supporting mechanism 34may be a plurality of legs 36 having a bottom end 38. In certainembodiments, the plurality of legs 36 may include a plurality of upperlegs 16 and a plurality of lower legs 18.

The plurality of upper legs 16 may include a hollow interior 40 and anopen bottom end 42. The plurality of lower legs 18 may be a size smallerthan the plurality of upper legs 16. The plurality of lower legs 18 maybe adjustably inserted into the hollow interior of the plurality ofupper legs 16. In certain embodiments, a plurality of feet 20 may beattached to a bottom end 38 of the plurality of lower legs 18 to reducedamage to the sink 24.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of legs 36 may be adjusted as awhole, or only several legs may be adjusted. While the Figures show theplurality of upper legs 16 and the plurality of lower legs 18 beingadjusted in height, the supporting mechanism 34 may be height adjustedby various mechanisms. The sink insert may be of the same material orsimilar to the countertop 22 or sink basin 24.

A method of converting a vanity sink from an under mount sink to aninfinity sink configuration may include the following. The supportingmechanism 34 may be attached to the base support 28. In certainembodiments, the plurality of feet 20 may be attached to the bottom end38 of supporting mechanism 34 so that the surface of the sink 24 may notbe scratched. The height of the combination may be adjusted so that whenthe sink insert 12 is attached to the top side 30 of the base support28, the level of the device 10 approximately matches the level of acountertop 22 or a level predetermined by the user. The sink insert 12may then be attached to the top side 30 of the base support 28. Thedevice 10 may be placed in contact with the sink 24. Starting with acounter recessed sink, the device 10 may be positioned so that a draingap 26 may be between the perimeter of the sink insert 12 and the sink24 and countertop 22. With the device 10 in place, as a faucet is turnedon, water will first hit the device 10 and flow through the drain gap 26at the perimeter before flowing into the under mount sink 24. Thecounter recessed sink may now act as an infinity sink at this time. Theentire device 10 may be easily removable to convert the sink 24 backinto a counter recessed sink.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asplurality forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A convertible sink configuration devicecomprising: a base support having a top side and a bottom side; asupporting mechanism attached to the bottom side of the base support;and a sink insert attached to the top side of the base support.
 2. Theconvertible sink configuration device of claim 1, wherein the supportingmechanism is adjustable in height.
 3. The convertible sink configurationdevice of claim 1, wherein the base support comprises a base plate. 4.The convertible sink configuration device of claim 3, wherein thesupporting mechanism comprises a plurality of legs having a bottom end.5. The convertible sink configuration device of claim 4, furthercomprising a plurality of feet attached to the bottom end of theplurality of legs.
 6. A convertible sink configuration devicecomprising: a base plate having a top side and a bottom side; aplurality of upper legs attached to the bottom side of the base plate,wherein the plurality of upper legs have a hollow interior and an openbottom end; and a plurality of lower legs adjustably inserted into thehollow interior of the plurality of upper legs, wherein the plurality oflower legs has a bottom end; and a sink insert attached to the top sideof the base plate.
 7. The convertible sink configuration device of claim6, further comprising a plurality of feet attached to the bottom end ofthe plurality of lower legs.
 8. The convertible sink configurationdevice of claim 6, wherein the plurality of upper legs and plurality oflower legs comprise four of each.
 9. A method for converting a vanitysink from an under mount to an infinity sink configuration comprising:adjusting the height of a base support by adjusting the height of asupporting mechanism attached to a bottom side of the base support;attaching a sink insert to a top side of the base support, wherein thesink insert, the supporting mechanism, and the base support define aconvertible sink configuration device; placing the convertible sinkconfiguration device in contact with a sink; and allowing for a draingap between the perimeter of the sink insert and the sink and counter.10. The method of claim 9, wherein the base support comprises a baseplate.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the supporting mechanismcomprises a plurality of legs.